Becoming a 4-season backpacker ain’t easy – or cheap! Neither is getting in shape, apparently. Here’s all the junk I’ve accumulated this month:
Oboz O Fit Plus Thermal Insole
Few things reduce your enjoyment of the outdoors like cold feet. I prefer Oboz insoles to Superfeet so when I discovered they had an insulated version I snagged a pair. They feature a fuzzy (moisture-wicking polyester) top and mylar reflective layer on the bottom. They now live at the bottom of my winter boots although I don’t see any reason I couldn’t throw them in my trail runners as well.
($34.95 per pair, 44g each)
Altai Hok Snowshoe Skis
After reading about these in Ultralight Winter Travel I knew this was my ticket to winter mobility. I dislike snowshoes because of their awkward wide stance and fixed speed but am also not terribly interested in flat cross-country skiing or speedy downhills. What I want is to be able to do the same hikes in the winter that I would in the summer and I think these skis – with their permanent skin for ascending, extra width, and reduced length for maneuverability – are the ticket. In addition to being light and easy to use they also feature a snowshoe-style universal binding which means you can use them with any winter boot, avoiding the cost of dedicated ski boots and bindings.
($344.95 per pair, 1566g per ski)
Zardoz Base Boost
This PTFE aka Teflon-based wax substitute was intended to keep the Hoks nice and slick for the season but sadly you’re supposed to reapply it once per day. I’ll have to put more mileage on them before I decide whether this is worth carting around or not.
($14.99, weight unknown since I applied it before measuring – derp)
Ultralight Bike Touring and Bikepacking
Justin “Trauma” Lichter‘s book about ultralight bikepacking. The Palouse to Cascades Trail (formerly the John Wayne/Iron Horse Trail) which stretches from North Bend to the Idaho border is still on my bucket list!
($11.51)
Trail Tested
Justin “Trauma” Lichter’s book about ultralight backpacking and thru-hiking gear. Dude has hiked over 35,000 miles so I figure he probably knows what he’s talking about.
($19.94)
Scott Kelby’s Digital Photography Boxed Set
As an amateur photographer I’m always on the lookout for comprehensive beginner’s books that might teach me some new tidbit of information. Despite being some of the best-selling digital photography books ever written I had never heard of this series so decided to pick up the whole set.
($43.49)
Atmospheric Thermodynamics
My quest to understand the physics of drying and moisture has taken an odd turn. This book covers the atmosphere through the lenses of physics and chemistry. Bound to be a pretty wild ride.
($69.99)
Hypothermia: Death by Exposure
An oldie but goody written by William Forgey, the father of wilderness medicine. Referenced in Ultralight Winter Travel as an authoritative resource on the physiology of hypothermia.
($1.95)
Cascade Mountain Tech Aluminum Trekking Poles
These will hopefully double as both sturdy ski poles and tent poles for my X-Mid 1P. I’ve read that carbon fiber poles get brittle in the cold so my current pair is now relegated to three-season use.
($22.99)
The Roll Model
As recommended by Training for the Uphill Athlete, this book covers self-massage using balls of various sizes to improve recovery between workouts. Think foam rollers but spherical.
($26.14)
Tune Up Fitness Therapy Ball PLUS
Balls of specific size. See previous entry for details.
($18.69)
Fitbit Inspire HR
Since heart rate monitoring is crucial for effective zone-targeted workouts I picked up the simplest Fitbit that still offered advanced heart rate monitoring features. I’m really not in the market for a smartwatch, I only want to wear this during workouts.
($69.00)
Yes4All 3-in-1 Wood Plyo Box
Fitness fitness fitness. According to the tests in Training for the Uphill Athlete I scored in the middle on hip and knee stability and a box for weighted step-ups was recommended to improve my strength. I picked up the 16″ x 18″ x 20″ version.
($79.95)
Letsfit Resistance Bands
You know what else is good for improving hip strength? Resistance band squats.
($5.26)
SnowClaw Backcountry Shovel
I did a search for ultralight backcountry shovel and this was the first thing that popped up. My Black Diamond snow shovel is fifteen years old and I figured that shovel technology might have advanced slightly during that time. What they’ve done is taken the handle off the shovel and replaced it with two grips on the blade itself. It’s a third of the weight of other modern lightweight shovel designs and, while goofy looking, seems to be pretty effective and reviews are overwhelmingly positive. I’ll keep you posted.
($20.00, 174g)
Six Moon Designs Silver Shadow Carbon Umbrella
During a 3-day trip to Seven Lakes Basin I discovered that my Montbell Travel Umbrella‘s claimed 34.6-inch diameter was just a few inches too narrow – if I held it in my left hand then my right arm would get wet and vice-versa. Not the end of the world if you’re wearing a rain jacket underneath but it was still annoying. So when Six Moon Designs released their Silver Shadow Carbon umbrella with a whopping 37 inches of coverage (although I measured it at 36) I took the plunge during one of their sales. It’s sturdier (read: heavier), reflective instead of transparent, and it should actually keep the rain off. My experience on the Camino and in the Enchantments – any place where you’re baking in the sun all day with no shade, really – has been that a reflective umbrella is a night-and-day difference as far as perceived temperature and comfort. The Carbon is 29 grams lighter than my previous reflective umbrella, the Swingtrek Liteflex, which I sadly misplaced.
I wonder if I could coat this thing in Rain-X?
($35.00, 203g)
Enlightened Equipment Enigma 10F Long/Wide Quilt
Almost last but certainly not least, I bought myself a warmer quilt. With 50% more down than my Sierra Designs Nitro 20F I’m hoping I can push my comfort temperature from around 35-40F to the low teens and spent a few nights outside this winter.
($355.00, 744g)
Rab Microlight Alpine Jacket Extra Large
During a work trip to London I got some hands-on time with some Rab jackets and decided to pick this one up. It’s got about twice as much down as my Ghost Whisperer but also weighs twice as much. On the other hand it doesn’t matter how little your puffy weighs if it doesn’t keep you warm and I definitely had some rough spells with the Ghost Whisperer. I don’t know if this new jacket will be sufficient for hanging out during the winter but at the very least it should significantly increase my comfort level in the shoulder seasons.
($280, 472g)